You won't want to miss these amazing events: Interact Conference . . . Grant Management Seminars . . . District Conference . . . Youth Exchange . . . Life Leadership . . . Rotary Leadership Institute . . . something for everyone. Mark your calendar now!
On Saturday, March 28th our Interact members and advisors are encouraged to attend the Second Annual Interact Conference at North Muskegon High School. Registration begins at 8:30 am. The program kicks off at 9:00 am and adjourns at 3:30 pm.
Join us in Traverse City May 1 - 3 for a high-energy conference focused on "Bridging the Gap." The spotlight will be on young professionals and young Rotarians--how we can collectively ensure the future of our organization. Check out this brief video for conference highlights. Full details are on our home page at www.ridistrict6290.org or continue reading for highlights.
"In my years of Rotary, this was THE best training/workshop I've attended on a district or even international level. The presenters were enthusiastic, the approaches to the information were novel, the day flew by and I learned so much. I also appreciate that there was plenty of time for fellowship and networking." -- Leann Burger, D-6290, Manistee Sunrise
Be sure to take advantage of our District 6290 Scholarship Program.
Many of our Rotary Clubs are known by their events and/or service projects. What we do versus who we are. The public is often unaware of us as a membership-based organization. If asked “What’s Rotary?” how effective are we at explaining we’re more than a chicken barbeque, a youth scholarship program or a school’s service club?
Create your elevator speech at our first District Webinar! Our Membership Chair and Public Image Coordinator are teaming up to deliver some practical tips. Read more for the call in details.
On January 30th 2015 our District lost one of its finest and most humble soldiers in the battle against polio. Dr. Bill Sprague was a long-time member of the Rotary Club of Grand Rapids. Past District Governor John Salin recalls: "Bill was a great human being, humanitarian, and tireless promoter of Polio Plus-He traveled extensively in Nigeria, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan on behalf of Polio Plus-In Afghanistan, the Taliban put out a contract on Bill’s life, but he was not deterred and did his humanitarian efforts in spite of it-He was a very humble man and a great doctor-He shall be sorely missed and we may never be privileged to see someone of his stature again."
Recalling a phone call he received one winter evening in 1998 PDG John Morrison shares "Bill had just returned from Asia (possibly Cambodia). His team had been assigned to go up jungle rivers to negotiate "cease fire days" between warring tribes, to allow NID teams to distribute the Polio vaccine drops to the children of the area."
Learn more about this humble man who contributed so much.
It has been seven months since the most recent case of wild poliovirus on the African continent had onset of paralysis, in Somalia on 11 August. Twelve months of absence of wild poliovirus, with certification-quality surveillance, will be necessary for the Horn of Africa outbreak to be declared as closed.
See how Lowell-based Cherry Creek Elementary School taught 500 of their fellow classmates about polio!
Eight Grand Rapids area clubs joined forces as part of the 2014/2015 District Public Image grant. Each club invested $500 to become part of a project with $10,000 budget! Details follow in rest of article. If you think this is out of your league . . . our Grayling, Roscommon and Houghton Lake clubs collaborated on similar grant and hosted a terrific mixer that had over 80 attendees, generating prospective members for the clubs. When it comes to telling the Rotary story and getting the word out . . . join forces!
Without access to refrigeration, many pantries have to turn away valuable donations that can serve their community. Learn how Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario helped a local organization change that!
At the 2015 P.E.T.S. which took place March 19 - 21 the 2015/2016 Class of Club Presidents approved the proposed District budget for their year which includes zero increase to District dues.
A copy of the budget will be published at our website, and will be included in next months newsletter with a summary of key changes.
We are delighted to announce Ed Swart as District Governor Nominee Designate (2017-18). Ed is a member of the Rotary Club of Holland where he served as International Youth Exchange Committee Chair and as Club YEO for ten years in addition to holding numerous leadership positions including Club President in 2000/2001.
Ed has served at District level on the Youth Exchange Committee since 2001 as our Youth Protection Officer (2006 - 2008), Chair (2009 – 2013), Vice Chair and Chief Mentor (2013-2015). He is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow which is somewhat of a family affair. His wife Carol, also a Holland Rotarian, is a Paul Harris Fellow as are three sons.
I hope I am not sounding like a broken record. From my vantage point it seems like every time I get the floor I speak about the importance of growing membership.
During my club visit speeches I spoke repeatedly about finding the meeting format and activities model that made your clubs, “More attractive to the members you have and the members you want to have.” That seemed to capture the essence of recruiting new members and retaining the existing ones..
During the upcoming year, the District newsletter will be released on the 1st of each month. The deadline to submit materials is the 20th of each month. If you have an example of a 'best practice' or have other great news to share, please complete our 'Club News' submission form (found at www.ridistrict6290.org under Public Image, or in the FAQ section in our monthly newsletter). Electronic photos are encouraged. Please try to limit your submission to 300 words or less.
